I apologise in advance if the nature of this article unearths any painful memories for anyone reading it. But let’s stop beating around the bush. When it comes to Indigenous health – govt, pharma and medical groups are putting it to good dollar value use by promoting all things vaccine and man-made symptom/disease focus while forgetting one little thing – traditional diet was supremely healthy; our first nations were fit and free of western disease.

Prevention, a word that was once used to apply to natural health activities – bush medicine, local herbal, and so on, has now been warped to be part of orthodoxy – just as the word traditional has been done in the past. Rather than join hands with ‘alternatives’ medical sciences have worked as hard behind the scenes to crush what they see as opposition rather than complimentary – just as they have done with the Indigenous groups for centuries.

I would like to direct the attention to Indigenous health in this instance – something at the fore of my practice for a number of decades – without funding or outside support.

As a nurse in the 80s, I saw one too many Aboriginal people die needlessly – yes, this was some time ago, but despite my appeals to so-called medical leaders, media and government back then, knowing the gap has only widened shows little real effective effort is being done by those who pull the purse strings, while those who are dying just to make a change are still swimming against the tide. I have seen countless very promising programs come and go without anything other than a patronising nod to those who could make the change, by those too busy slapping themselves on the back for good deeds they never did.

The following is a tiny portion of what I have witnessed professionally –

One doctor who was mistakenly seen as sympathetic to local Aboriginals refused point blank to agree over the phone to life-saving pharmaceutical use which would have saved the life of one lady – he also refused to come into hospital and administer treatment during the night HE was on call – while forbidding to verbally approve the nurse in charge from taking action (even though she was more than capable – yet if she had acted, she would have been struck off or even charged) – prognosis was grim simply because he refused to say one word – yes. This dear lady died slowly, over a matter of hours, as her husband pleaded for her life. The next day I witnessed this same doctor make it to the hospital within 7 minutes of being called to tend to a wealthy caucasian woman in the next bed – something that we mere nurses could have taken care of without his assistance.

A dehydrated baby, needing no more than IV fluids and electrolytes during a local flood (we currently had a hospital full of other similar cases that were responding favourably) insisted on a lumbar puncture – the baby was 4 months old, had no symptoms of meningitis as this doctor tried to insist. I, along with a few other staff members, took the time to investigate his records and found that many unapproved drugs were being used on the babies of unsuspecting Indigenous locals – I had also witnessed him advising young mothers that their babies would die if they were not given certain medications when this was not even close to the truth. Most of these babies were simply coming in for post natal check ups and had no health issues to begin with. No consideration was given to bush medicine which had allowed generations to thrive throughout history. Of the most damning note was that this doctor did not conduct Indigenous clinics – we nurses took these. He flew into town once a fortnight to only conduct non-Indigenous patient consults. Most alarmingly, this doctor is now deemed to be head of Indigenous Health nationwide and not only teaches ‘Indigenous Medicine’ but teaches Indigenous students!

One elderly man came into hospital with an infected knee. Simple debriding and low dose antibiotics were all that were ‘needed’ medically, yet this doctor insisted on a dosage 4 times the standard practice ‘to test the tolerance’ of this individual. In all my years of nursing practice, I had never once seen such a high dose used on a non-Indigenous individual as it was considered too harsh. His delicate immune and digestive balance, destroyed just because this individual wanted to ‘test’ a theory. I remain friends with this elder’s family and was as saddened as I was frustrated at his slow and shockingly painful deterioration – unable to do a thing without proof or board backing.

Doctors invariably argued against our (the nurses’) suggestions that fast food and the poor white man’s diet inflicted destruction, sickness and slow death upon Indigenous people from the time of invasion.

It was well known while working in the Kimberley that tribal people had a delicate layer of oils which coated and protected their skin – they rarely had infections or skin afflictions as this was a barrier to pathogens and injury. Yet when they were brought into hospital they were scrubbed with soaps that paid no attention to the delicate pH – effectively stripping the layer, usually descending into triggering skin disorders and ongoing infections.

During blanket vaccination assaults across the top end of Australia, official records show many babies died – records to this day do not show anything questionable, even though those children were healthy when vaccinated. These same records were used to ‘prove’ the efficacy of vaccines – and those numerous deaths were put down to disease rather than manslaughter. The doctor who exposed it – Dr Archie Kalokerinos was discredited and run out of practice, eventually dying abroad and today is lampooned in medical school – both as a warning to new students as an example of what happens when you step out of line in truth, and as a ‘baby killer’ as I was recently informed by a WA doctor. The research proves unequivocably that vaccine damage is more prevalent in Indigenous communities but this is deliberately covered up or dismissed.

Research has shown the increase in diabetes, hypertension, epilepsy, cancer and premature aging is all linked in various ways to the poor white man’s diet and drug therapies, including vaccination and medication which is given without consideration of bush medicine or diet adjustment. Rather than address this, more and more medications are being inflicted upon Indigenous people. More money is being put into ‘research’ and closing the gap, while Indigenous health moves further and further away from the original goal.

In the early 90s, along with two elders in the Kimberley I was part of a team which applied to establish a centre that would service a very wide area – with local stakeholders at the fore. Based on traditional methods, diet, a comprehensive and integrative program, bringing in safety, rehabilitation, and so much more which would allow every age group to benefit. The decision makers (who weren’t even Australian) laughed us out of the room – of interest was the fact that both husband and wife were on massive inflated wages, with a car each and house provided. Yet there was no funding… Those poor gents left for home so despondent. Instead, the money went to a ‘sobering up’ centre which simply transferred the focus from the local lockup and hospital – with poor results and outcomes. What a prolonged waste of life and funds.

I was often in trouble during my career for suggesting alternative avenues of treatment when orthodoxy had no answers. One premature child was dying in front of us and her mother was terrified – she’d talked about some bush medicine that she had seen work miracles on the two issues this baby had – skin and lung disorders. I helped her abscond during one night shift and she spent just two weeks out bush allowing the ladies and medicine man to care for the baby, after 9 months of inefficient medical care – because the doctor had said ‘there is nothing more we can do’. The child returned, vitally healthy, breathing clearly – and sadly all the doctor would say was “See nurse, you said my suggestions wouldn’t work.” I opened the drawer into which we’d thrown his prescription and despite the baby’s glowing health, muttered something about me endangering her life…. Since then, I have unfortunately come into contact with western, even foreign companies pushing to buy out Indigenous medicines and research is showing that even the best of them are being medicalised. This often results in them being advised as illegal for home use,not to mention often sold at prices hundreds of times their original value….

Beginning in 1984, I contacted the well-known paediatric doctor who ran PMH’s children’s research centre and highlighted these things. She was just not interested enough to even get a staff member to consider what I had to say. It smacks of irony to know she is one of the head experts now in Closing the Gap. Why? So more Indigenous kids can be put on lifelong meds? More vaccines? Or just more research funding or a new hospital in her name? The gap cannot possibly close this way. Especially when decision-makers and stakeholders are too scared to rock the boat.!

This sham is not focused on one doctor. The one I worked with, responsible for what can only be described as illegal/negligent care, is now a ‘leading light’ in Indigenous health and education, despite being investigated for malpractice over his actions.

Unfortunately I have been on both sides of this story – as part of government health. In fact it was the main reason I left orthodoxy and turned my back on medical school plans. Okay, many medical experts are in it for the right reason but I would be lying – and so would they – if anyone said that medicine has all the answers – but any attempt by an integrative professional is shut down – government funding simply does not exist for such a sensible plan. All despite self funding and results showing above average success rates and overall health improvement.

Like African nations, New Zealand and other island nations, obesity is at an all-time high – more than 50% – entire communities suffering obesity and related health issues. Yet medicine fails to address this; focusing instead on prescription medications. Diets and lifestyles have been moulded around circumstance – affordability, geography, mobility and permission over the years. It’s now expected to become obese, have diabetes, hypertension, epilepsy and heart disease as part and parcel of being Indigenous, as you age. Few people see the difference in just 30 odd years. You rarely see an older, thin Indigenous person, male or female. Obesity kicks in young. In fact, you rarely see an older Indigenous person at all! Now that healthy, fresh food is freely available, few are interested or even understand what they can do for their health so easily. This includes well educated and financially able families.

Environment has much to do with Indigenous health worldwide – chemical spraying, dumping grounds, even atomic bombs. Poor water quality and use of toxic chemical usage without knowledge of dangers – or even complete lack of knowledge it is being used. Not to forget half a century focused on pushing cigarettes and alcohol onto even youths. All these things have added another excessive burden to Indigenous health.

Foods that have nothing to do with indigenous history have now been included into traditional diets – in fact, the modern day ‘traditional’ diet is little more than excessive consumption of the very things that should not be – and never were – included in this way –

tea and coffee (triggers to bad health even in people who have had generational exposure)

fast food is now a common part of everyday eating habits especially of urban Indigenous people

alcohol – while we all have the right to drink, it has zero health benefits and has all but destroyed entire communities

So what are the answers? There is no vaccination, no pill or treatment that will improve Indigenous health. Truth needs to eventually be introduced. Most of my Indigenous friends are afraid of – or suffering from – diabetes, hypertension, cancer, obesity – yet not one has been told by their health expert to return to a real traditional diet. And few dare to take the step to even try to truly go back to traditional methods – or natural methods. I have lost count of the number of people who have told me their doctor has advised that it is dangerous, or makes no difference!

Yet this is possible in today’s world, without the need to return completely to the land.

It is doable but it will take a complete change of direction and much effort. In my 23 years as a natural health practitioner, my Indigenous quota of patients compared to other groups sat at around 3% despite more than half of my friends and social network being Indigenous. In fact I had more patients in South Africa than I did Australia – and their health rates mirrored Australia’s Indigenous population. The results are astounding – reversing all manner of health issues while removing the stigma of ‘big African mama’ that so many expect, which, prior to colonisalisation, did not exist.

For anyone seeking answers, please see my other blog posts on diet, weightloss and particular health issues. ALL health issues can be improved in varying degrees with the right dietary and alternative treatments – with sensible – not controlling – medical involvement. After all, isn’t it about HEALTH?

Stop the focus on sickness and death.

Appropriate dietary advice does not include the popular notion of ‘moderation’ – it is all about eradication of the offending foods and habits, while introducing and including predominantly raw, wholefoods, such as forefathers thrived on centuries ago. The term moderation is lazy, with a lack of dedication to real change. I have seen more than my share of Indigenous friends who, without funding, have managed to turn their health a complete 180 degrees using such methods. It’s just not popular – especially when education, media and medical experts advise against it.

Every post in this blog can and will be of benefit. The diet plan will not only allow weightloss to occur easily, but will correct a multitude of health issues. The supplements recommended will turn health around completely, improving longevity and removing so-called hereditary issues. Sadly, there is no government funding for HEALTHY living.

Please consider this.

For more information on Australian Indigenous health, rights, wellbeing, justice and BLACK history, please visit here